Link



Aug. 16, 1932. URSCHEL 1,872,099

LINK

Filed Jan. 23, 1950 37 16 Hq 5 Hq 6 gwventoz 73mm 1% awe/zed vg 477MPatented Aug. 16, 1932 umren fsTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

" IBERTIS H. URSCI-IEL, OF BOWLING GREEN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO URSCHELENGINEERING COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO LINK.Application filed J'anuary 23, 1230. Serial No. 422,690.

My invention has for its object to provide a means for interconnectingmachine ele ments where one of the elements is preferably formed ofexceedingly light weight material and, notwithstanding, provide in thecombination a means of transmitting a relatively large force orpressure. e

The invention particularly provides a means for interconnecting tworelatively oscillatable angularly movable members, one of the membersbeing of a tubular construction and wherein means is provided forsustaining the stresses and strains at the point of connection. Theinvention also provides an eflicient construction that may be formed ofdie pressed parts and, consequently, can be cheaplylnade and assembled.

In the preferred form of construction, the invention is particularlyadaptable for use in connection with tie rods, drag links, and inautomobile constructions which. are usually connected to movable partsof an automobile by ball and socket joints. It is also adaptable whereintie rods or links must necessarily be formed to transmit compression aswell as tension strains which necessitates that such members be stiffand rigid and wherein it is desirable that they be exceedingly light inweight to reduce the strains produced by vibration which invariablyoccurs in connection with such constructions.

As is well known in connection with links heretofore used, particularlyin automobiles, the links are invariably provided with a threaded wallin which is located a threaded plug used for clamping a spherical headof a part to which the link is connected. Where the link is formedtubular, threading the wall invariably weakens it and the constantlychanging stresses eventually cause fracture. By my invention thespherical head is secured in position without threading the ends of thetubular link and, consequently, the link may be formed of light weighttubular stock.

The invention may be contained in structures that vary in their detailsand which may be used for different purposes. To illustrate a practicalapplication of the invention, 1 have selected a link embodying theinvention as an example, and shall describe the link selectedhereinafter. The link referred to is shown inthe accompanying drawing. M

Fig. 1 is a view of a longitudinal section of one end of the link. Fig.2 is a view of a section taken on the plane at right angles to the planeof the section shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of asemi-spherical plate forming a part of a socket for the spherical headof the member to which the link is connected. Fig. 4 is a view of asection of the semiespherical plate shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view ofa section of a cap that covers the end of the link. Fig. 6 is a view ofa trans verse section through a part used for interconnecting the cap tothe end of the link.

In the form of construction shown in the drawing, the link 1 is formedof relatively light weight, tubularstock and has a recess 2 cut from theside wall at the end of the link, and a recess 3 also cut from the sidewall at the end of the link at a point substantially oppositeto therecess 2. The edge of the recess 2 is substantially semi-circular in itsprojection 011 a horizontal plane located tangential to the link lat thepoint of the deepest part of the recess 2 from the end of the link 1,while the recess 3 is rectangular in its form and its center islocatedin the plane j extending through the axis of the link, and

the deepest point of the recess 2, as measured from the end of the link.Av cap 5, having an'extended flange or sleeve 6, covers the end of thelink 1. The sleeve 6 tightly fits the exterior surface of the end of thelink 1.

a hole 7 that in its projection onto the plane tangential to thecylindrical surface of the sleeve 6, has a diameter substantially thesame as that of the recess 2 The cap 5 has and, when the cap 5 isplacedv in position on the link 1, the recess 2 and the hole 7 registerwith each other. The connecting member 8 extends through the hole 7 andthe recess 2 and is secured within the end of the link and the cap 5. iU I The member 8 is provided with a spherical head 9l0cated within theend of thelinkil and within the cap 5. The openings 7 and 2 affordangular movement ofthe shank or member 8 to permit angular movements ofthe :link 1 relative to the member8. The head 9 is secured in asubstantially cylindrical socket that is in turn secured within the endof the link 1 and the cap 5. The cylindrical socket is formed of twosubstantially hemispherical discs 10 that are so formed that when placedtogether they leave a space for angular movement of the member 8relative to the link 1.

The hemispherical discs 10 are provided with flanges 12 that extendaround the edges of the hemispherical discs except along the edgeportions that form the opening 11. When the substantially hemisphericaldiscs are placed together, the flanges '12 abut or make contact witheach other and form on their interior a spherical surface correspondingto the spherical surface of the head 9. The hemispherical discs 10 areprovided with notches 13 that are located in the flanges 12 and the cap5 is provided with an inwardly extending protuberance 15 that may beformed by depressing the sheet metal of the V sleeve 6 inwardly. Theinwardly extending raised portion 15 extends into and tightly fits therecess 3 of the link land the notches 18. formed in the flanges 12 ofthe hemispherical discs 10, which prevents angular movement of the cap 5relative to the body portion of the link and prevents angular movementof the discs within the end of the link 1 and the cap 5 by movement ofthe spherical head 9. V

The discs 10 are secured in position between the end of the link 1 whichabuts the'flange 12 of the inner of the hemispherical discs 10 and aspring member 18 that is located intermediate the outer end of the capand the outer of the hemispherical discs 10. The spring member 18 may beformed vof two dished discs 19 having peripheral portions 20 that makecontact with each other the peripheral portion of the outer of the said7 dished discs 19 making contact with the end of the cap 5. The inner ofthe dished discs 19 is, preferably provided with a sharper curvaturethan the outer of the dished discs 19 and. V

the cap 5 is provided with a central dished portion 21 of the curvatureless than the outer of the dished discs 19. This forms an exceedinglyeflicient and highly resistant elastic member for yieldingly resistingthe e movements of the hemispherical discs due to I tensile force thatmay be transmitted from the member .8 to the link 1. The outer of thehemispherical discs 10 may be provided with a flattened portion 2 1where it makes contact with the inner of the central dished discs 19 toprevent local depression of the inner of the dished discs 19.

The cap 5'is secured in position so as to elastically hold thehemispherical discs 10 against the end of the link 1 by means of thebolt 26. Preferably the link 1 and the sleeve 6 of the cap 5 areprovided with open cured together by means of discs having indented 29are located. The sockets 29 have flanged edges 30 that engage the edgesof the openings 28 in the sleeve 6 of the cap 5. The head 31 of the bolt26 is located in one of the sockets 29 while the nut 32 is located inthe other of the sockets. The cap 5 is forced onto the. end of the link1 and they are sethe bolt which extends through the bottoms of thesock-. ets 29.

The end of the link 1 may be provided with a disc 35 that may be formedto have a flange 36 that fits the inner surface of the link 1 and formswithin the end of the link 1 and the cap 5, a chamber 37 for containinga lubricant for lubricating the spherical head 9 and the hemisphericaldiscs that enclose the head. Suitable cover plates may be used forcovering the opening 7 to prevent the escape of the lubricant.

I claim:

In a tubular link, a cap for closing the end of the tubular link andhaving an opening, a member extending through the opening and having aspherical head located within the cap, a pair of sheet metalhemispherical discs substantially surroundingthe said head and havingflanges, the end of the tubular link abutting the flange of one of thehemispherical discs, termediate the end of the cap and the other of thehemi-spherical discs for pressing the head between the hemi-sphericaldiscs, the cap and the flanges of the hemi-spherical registeringportions for preventing rotation of the hemi-spherical discs with thesaid member.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

' BERTIS H. URSCHEL.

ings 27 and 28 in which apair of sockets a spring located in- 9

